Denver B-Cycle Launch

To lessen the city’s carbon emissions, Denver launches B-cycle. It is a bike-sharing system that promotes healthy choices by commuting via bicycles to and from city spots. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper explains further, “Denver residents embrace healthy and sustainable living, so it’s natural that Denver is now home to the first large-scale bike-sharing system in the U.S. We’re confident that Denver can set an example for the whole country and show that bike-sharing is a viable transportation option to help improve the overall health of Americans and reduce our carbon footprint.”

The B-cycle was created by Humana, Trek Bicycle and Crispin Porter + Bogusky. The initiative was designed to accommodate U.S cities, universities and corporate campuses. The B-cycle bikes have a computerized tracking system which records different data like how much calories did you burn, your contribution to the city’s efforts in reducing carbon emissions.

President of B-cycles and general counsel for Trek Bicycle Corporation, Bob Burns shares what the B-cycle is all about. “Bike-sharing was created for the commuter whose transit stop is two miles from the office, the urbanite running errands, and the tourist out sightseeing. With this in mind, B-cycle offers a cruiser-style bike that is comfortable for people of all sizes and biking abilities.”

It is also building a social community which connects B-cycle users online. You can create your own profile and interact with other commuters using the service.

There will be 500 B-cycles and 50 B-cycle stations all over the city. The rental fees are as follows: 24 hours – $5 7 days – $20 30 days – $30

There is also the option for commuters to join the annual program for $65 and this allows them to use a bike for a year. If you can pick up and return your bicycle to any B-cycle station within 30 minutes, the rental fee is waived.

Bike-sharing is popular in Paris, Barcelona, Beijing, Montreal and Mexico City. Denver is the first city for 2010, to be followed by Minneapolis and Boston.

Total rip off! What a great idea utilized in such a poor manner due to “usage fees”. I rented 2 bicycles for a little less then 24 hours and was charged $65 dollars, plus the original $10 I put down to even rent them in the first place. Why on earth would I have rented them had I known this? I could have bought a bicycle for these prices!! Beware of the fine print of “usage fees” because every person I have come across in Denver who is renting a b-cycle didn’t even know they’d be hit with such a heavy cost.